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OUR RELATION TO OUR COUNTRY.

[Part II.

anxiety and earnestness on this vital subject, of which we cannotbe fully sensible, without making some examination. It mustsuffice, however, to select a sentence from one of the state con-stitutions in each of the four great sections of the union, thenorthern, middle, southern, and western.

The constitution of Massachusetts says, “ Wisdom and know-ledge, as well as virtue, diffused generally among the body of thepeople, being necessary for the preservation of their rights andliberties, and as these depend on spreading the opportunities andadvantages of education in the various parts of the country, andamong the different orders of the people, it shall be the duty ofthe legislatures and magistrates, in all future periods of this com-monwealth, to cherish the interests of literature and the sciences,and all seminaries of them ; especially the university at Cam-bridge, and public schools and grammar schools in the towns.”*The constitution of Pennsylvania says, “ The legislature shall, assoon as conveniently may be, provide by law for the establish-ment of schools throughout the State, in such manner that thepoor may be taught gratis. The arts and sciences shall be pro-moted in one or more seminaries of learning.”! The constitu-tion of Georgia says, “The arts and sciences shall be promotedin one or more seminaries of learning ; and the legislature shall,as soon as conveniently may be, give such further donations andprivileges to those already established, as may be necessary tosecure the objects of their institution.”! The constitution ofOhio says, “Religion, morality, and knowledge, being essential-ly necessary to the good government and the happiness of man-kind, schools and the means of instruction shall for ever be en-couraged by legislative provision.”§

These wise constitutional provisions have been carried into asfull effect, as the nature of a free government permits, which canonly give the people the opportunity of having their childrentaught, but cannot, like an arbitrary government, compel them toavail themselves even of a provision so much and so obviouslyfor their benefit. But it may be said with great truth, that, inevery State of the Union, no one needs to fail of an education

Chap. V. Sect. 2. t Art. VII. 1,2. t Art. IV. Sect. 13. § Art. VIII. 3.